Answer is Yes water will help you lose weight, in part because the process of losing water weight through sweating also causes your body to burn stored fat. In fact, it’s how the body naturally regulates its fat level that led the late cardiologist and National Institutes of Health researcher Dr. Nischal Uppal to coin the term “the zero calorie diet.” “If you’re eating 1,500 calories per day, and you cut out 500 calories, then your body might store more fat than it does on a 1,500-calorie diet,” says Uppal, who, in 1991, published the first study proving the benefits of drinking water, as well as the benefits of eating every 20 to 30 minutes, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. “If you eat every 20 to 30 minutes, your body will store 200 to 300 fewer calories per day than if you just take in one meal a day”

Water is crucial for clearing toxins from your body and replenishing the water you lose every day. If you’re trying to lose weight, you may be surprised to find that drinking water may help to burn fat, too.

When you keep your body hydrated, you end up using up more of your body’s available energy reserves. This frees up fat to be burned for energy, giving you a slight edge over those who don’t consume enough water. To shed the most fat, drink about 64 ounces (or about 2 liters) of water for every pound you weigh.

You don’t need to switch to plain water. Clear sodas are nothing but empty calories. But if your habit is soda or juice, try switching to a flavored one with less added sugar, like seltzer. If you’re partial to sweet tea, invest in a bicarbon carbon filter.